Integrating Islamic Values with Scientific Education at IAIN Mataram, Indonesia
In an era of rapid biotechnological advancement, where breakthroughs in genetic engineering redefine life's boundaries, we face crucial questions about equipping future scientists to navigate complex ethical dilemmas.
At IAIN Mataram, researchers have developed a groundbreaking bioethics reference book that weaves ethical considerations into biological education, creating scientists who view moral reasoning as fundamental to their identity.
This pioneering work addresses the significant gap in Indonesian biological education where ethical discussions were previously treated as separate theoretical concepts rather than integrated components of scientific training.
Bioethics represents the critical intersection where biological science, medicine, moral philosophy, and legal standards converge.
It provides a systematic framework for examining ethical dimensions of biological research—from genetic testing to environmental conservation.
The reference book integrates Islamic perspectives with Western bioethical frameworks, creating a culturally relevant ethical foundation.
Combining literature review with surveys and interviews to identify ethical challenges in the Indonesian context 2 .
Systematic development following Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation stages.
Addressing both local educational requirements and global scientific standards for comprehensive relevance.
The creation process included multiple stages of review by both scientific and religious scholars, resulting in a truly interdisciplinary resource that bridges the gap between universal ethical principles and their manifestation in specific cultural settings.
| Assessment Area | Pre-Test Average Score (%) | Post-Test Average Score (%) | Improvement (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bioethics Knowledge | 52.3 | 85.7 | +33.4% |
| Ethical Case Analysis | 48.7 | 82.9 | +34.2% |
| Integration of Islamic Perspectives | 44.2 | 88.3 | +44.1% |
| Scientific Conceptual Understanding | 65.8 | 87.4 | +21.6% |
Students showed the greatest improvement in integrating Islamic perspectives with scientific reasoning—the core innovation of the reference book.
| Resource Type | Specific Examples | Function in Bioethics Education |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual Frameworks | TPACK model, Nature of Science (NoS) | Provide theoretical foundation for integrating ethical dimensions |
| Ethical Principles Sources | Islamic bioethics, Western frameworks, Cultural traditions | Offer diverse ethical perspectives for evaluating technologies |
| Assessment Tools | Scenario-based tests, Ethical case analyses | Measure understanding and application of bioethical principles |
| Pedagogical Approaches | Problem-Based Learning, Case-based teaching | Create engaging learning experiences for ethical reasoning |
| Reference Materials | Bioethics reference books, Islamic scientific ethics | Provide foundational knowledge and ethical analysis exemplars |
This toolkit represents the essential components that made bioethics integration successful at IAIN Mataram. The combination of theoretical frameworks, diverse ethical perspectives, appropriate assessment methods, and engaged pedagogy creates a comprehensive approach adaptable to various educational contexts.
The bioethics reference book represents more than just an educational resource—it signals a transformative approach to biology education that integrates scientific excellence with ethical responsibility.
By successfully blending Islamic values with biological science, this pioneering work creates a template for culturally responsive science education worldwide.
As biological technologies advance at an unprecedented pace, the need for such integrated educational resources becomes increasingly urgent. The work at IAIN Mataram offers a promising model for science education that recognizes the most important biological questions are never merely scientific, but always deeply human.